Draft rigging



Dec. 28 1926.

\ A. K. SIMMONS DRAFT RIGGING Filed Jan. 1o, 192

Patented Dec. 1926. UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE. A

ALBA K. SIMMONS,l or aOANoxE, VIRGINIA, AssIoNOR ro'rHE'sYMINeToN COMPANY, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION or MARYLAND.

' DRAFT RIGGING.

A Application tiled January 10, 1925. Serial No. 1,657.

The invention relates to `draft rigging for railway cars and has particular reference to means for connecting the lcoupler shank f with the yoke.

T heprincipal object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide means for pivotally connecting a coupler and yoke, said means comprising an upright pin orv key, the coupler and yoke being provided with slots so disposed and arranged that accidental disengagement of the coupler connecting means while the lparts are in serinvention.

vice is impossible.

The object of the invention, more specif` ically stated, is the provision of a draft riggin having a yoke provided in its arms wit elongated slots adapted to register with similar slots in the coupler shank to permit the insertion of a pin or'key designed to be subsequently4 rotated to bring .retaining gibs thereon into engagement with the arms of the yoke, the slot arrangement being such that the expansion of. the draft gear or cushion device will hold thecoupler shank in such relation to the yoke that portions of the slots will be out of registration, the opposite ends of the respective slots engaging against the pin or key. n

Another object of the invention is to rovide a structure of this character in w ich means is provided engaging one end of the pin or key for preventlng rotation thereof put of its normal position so that the gibs cannot accidently come into registration with the slots.` Y'

' A further'object of the invention isto provide a drat rigging in which the coupler shank and yoke are slotted for the accommodation of a pin or key which rovides of the oke slots and coupler vshank slot be,- ing suc as to permit the necessar and proper relative movement of the coup er with re-- spect to the yoke, the provision of the slot in the coupler shank making it possible to have short slots in the vyoke arms so that the yoke arms may be made comparatively narrow at points spaced somewhat back from the ends, thus permitting the utilization of front stops for the draft gear of greater inward proping down out of place.

likelihood of breakage or distort-ion at thispoint.

Another object of the invention is to pro- In the drawings:

vcase with certain types of connections.

Figure 1 is a view partl in plan and partly in horizontal section illustrating the Figure 2 is a view made partly in section along the,line 2-2 of Figure 1, certain parts being in elevation. Y Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, k Fig. Lis a bottom plan View of the draft n ey.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have illustrated a portion -of a draft rigging including center sllls 1 carrying the end sill 2 beyond which is the striking casting 3. Suitably secured between the center sills is the backstop 4 against which engages the rear end of a yoke 5 here shown as vertically arranged, within which is located any suitable or preferred draft gear or cushion device, indicated at (i, cooperating with front stops 7 secured to the center sills. In the present instance I have shown a yoke filler 8 within the inner or rear end of the yoke and fitting between. it and the draft gear, the filler having means, such as the extensions 9, for preventing it from drop- The forward ends ofthe arms of the yoke are formed with elongated slotsflO. the pivotal connection, thecombine lengths f The numeral 11 designates the coupler shank which engages against the forward end of the draft gear 6 and which is formed with an, elongated slot 12 which may be of the same size and shape as the slots l() in the yoke arms and adapted to register there,

means, which in the present instance, I have shown as a vertical pin or key 14. This key or pin is represented as of cylindrical formation and provided at its ends with retaining means herein disclosed as consisting of gibs 15 capable of passing through the registering slots 10 and 12 when the pin or key is properly turned, but ordinarily adapted to engage against the upper and lower surfaces with to permit insertion of the connecting of the upper and lower yoke arms, respectively, for reventing longitudinal movement of the key when in place.

It is desirable that means be provided for positively preventing rotation of the key or pin while the car is in service and this feature may conveniently be carried out by providing a carry iron 16 secured beneath the center sills in such position as to extend across the lower end of pin or key, the carry iron having guide means such as a groove or way 17 therein slidably receiving an extension 19 of angular shape on the lower end of the key or pin.

Assembling of the partsl can be effected only when the draft rigging is out of the car as this is the only time when the slots 10 and 12 can be brought into registration. The key or pin is inserted while in such position that the gibs thereon may pass through the slots, after which the key is given a quarter turn to bring the gibs in transverse relation to the slots. The draft gear or cushioning unit is then inserted and the parts raised to proper assembled position between the car sills. When the carry iron is applied so that the pin engages therewith, the co-action of the extension 19 with the groove or Way will prevent subsequent rotation of the Vkey or pin. When in normal `position the cushioningI unit 'will maintain the major portion of the slots 10 and 12 out of registration, the outer ends of the slots 10 and the inner end of the slot 12 engaging against the pin orkey so that even though no means were provided for reventing rotation thereof the key woul still be prevented from displacement as the gibs wouldl the yoke alone formed with slots to permitl the necessar relative movement of the coupler and yo e, the lengthof the yoke slots may be greatly reduced, therebyy making it possible to form the yoke comparatively narrow at a point somewhat back from the forward end instead of wide as would be necessary to give proper strength at the sides of long slots. This feature of comparative narrowness of the yoke is of great importance inasmuch as it then' becomes possible to utilize front stops for th'edraft gear, or front follower thereof, which may extend further into the space between the center sills and thus provide an increased bearing surface for the follower or draft gear which will reduce likelihood of distortion or breakage at this point. Another distinct feature of advantage is thatin case ofbreakage of the draft connectiorr only the pin orkey arms vof the served to make all such changes in the form,

construction and arrangement of parts as will widen the eld ofV utility and increase the adaptability of the device, provided such variations and modifications constitute no departure from the salient features of the invention or the scope of the hereunto appended claims.-

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a draft rigging, the combination of a vertical yoke enclosing a draft gear and having its arms provided with elongated slots, a coupler shank extending between the arms of the yoke and formed with an elongated slot adapted to register with the first named slots upon compression of the draft gear, meansfor pivotally connecting said coupler and yoke comprising an u right key formed with gibs on its ends a apted to pass through the slots when in one position and too long to pass through said slots when rotated from said position, and means, independent of the yoke, for holding said key in a position to prevent movement thereof in the direction of its length.

2. In a draft rigging, the combination of a vertical yoke enclosing a draft gear and having its arms provided with elongated slots, a coupler shank extending between the arms of thev yoke and formed with an elongated slot adapted to register with the first named slots uponcompression of the draft gear, means for pivotallvconnecting said coupler and yoke comprising an upright key, means for preventing movement of said key in the direction of its length, and means for preventin rotation of the key.

3. In a dra t rigging, the combination` of a vertical yoke enclosing a draft gear and having` its arms provided with elongated slots, a coupler shank extending between the oke and formed with anelongated slot a apted to register with the first named slots u on compression of the draft gear, means or pivotally connecting said coupler and yoke comprising angupright key, said key having projections thereon adapted normally to extend transversely with respect tothe slots and means for retaining said projections in normal position.

4. Ina draft rigging, the combination of a vertical'yoke enclosing a draft gear-and having its arms provided with elongated slots, a coupler shank extending between the arms ofthe oke and formed with'an elongated slot a apted to register with the first vnamed slots upon-A compression of the draft gear, a draft pin detachably enga ed through said slots for pivotally connecting said coupler and yoke, means on the key normally extending transversely of the slots and engaging the yoke for preventing movement of the pin in the direction of its length, and supporting means for the yoke provided with a portion cooperating Withl the lower end of the key to prevent rotation thereof during normal operation.

5. In a draft rigging, the combination of a vertical yoke enclosing a draft gear and having its arms provided with elongated slots, a coupler shank extending between the arms of the yoke and `formed with an elongated slot adapted to register with the rst named slots upon compression of the draft gear, a draft pin detachably engaged through said slots for pivotally connecting said coupler and yoke, a carry` iron located beneath the pin, and co-acting means on the pin and the carry iron for preventing rotation of the 6. In a draft rigging, the combination of a vertical yoke enclosing a draft gear and havings its arms provided with elongated slots, a coupler shank extending between the arms of the yoke and formed with an elongated slot adapted to register with the first named slots upon the compression of the draft gear, a draft key detachably engaged through said slots for -pivotally connecting said coupler and yoke, and a carry iron located beneath the key and having, a guide, the key having an extension sli ably and non-rotatably engaged'within the guide.

7. In a draft rigging, the combination of a yf 'te operatively connected with a draft gear and having its arms provided with elongated slots, a coupler shank extending between the arms of the yoke and formed with a slot, a draft key engaged through said slots and serving as a pivotal connection and means locking said key in position during normal operation, the provision of the slot in the shank making it possible to reduce` the length of the slot in the yoke and correspondingly reduce the Width of the yoke at a point back from the forward end thereof and providing more space at the sides of the yoke for the location of stop members for the draft gear` In testimony whereof I aliix my Y ALBA signature.

K. slMMbNs. 

